Temecula Valley High scrubbed down, refurbished over summer

TEMECULA -- When Temecula Valley High School students head back
to class later this month, they will find the campus in the middle
of a major face lift, with ongoing construction and the relocation
of other school amenities, a process that will continue for years
before the dust finally settles.

But Temecula Valley Unified School District officials have taken
great pains to ensure the construction does not hinder students'
high school experience, keeping the lion's share of activity fenced
off at the eastern side of campus and replacing parking spaces lost
to the renovations.

Temecula Valley High School officials say the biggest challenge
as students return Aug. 21 is for everyone -- parents included --
to become aware of new parking lots and traffic circulation
plans.

But campus officials said they were also thrilled to show off
another aspect of the revamp students will find on their first day
of school. The 21-year-old campus has been given a cleansing.

From removing old gum stuck to the walkways to adding boulders
and mulch to the school's planters, to repainting and tiling older
buildings, several bathroom renovations and much more, the upgrades
have given the venerable campus a sorely needed fresh and clean
vibe, officials said.

"It's all these little things starting to add up," said
Assistant Principal Mark Chavez. "They have beautified this campus
tremendously."

Chavez said the changes go a long way to help campus morale. For
example, two old building wings have been given tile, new lights
and a paint job over the summer.

"You walk in and it's vivid and bright, not dull," he said.
"This really has an impact on students."

The upgrades were done in addition to typical summer maintenance
campuses districtwide usually get their share of each July, said
Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Jeff Okun.

Okun added that the revamp included major trimming and removal
of vegetation around buildings and on slopes near buildings to
reduce rodent habitat. Several Temecula Valley High teachers and
students have complained of rodents in campus trash cans and
buildings over the last several years.

The school's upgrades are part of a major overhaul of the campus
expected to cost $40 million.

The first phase, which began in April, included relocating the
tennis courts to the campus's northeastern edges, where an overflow
parking lot used to sit, and adding about 300 new parking spaces to
the western side of the school.

The relocated tennis courts are expected to be open to the
public in early September, and the western parking spaces are
expected to be ready before the first day of school, officials
said.

The campus's new marquee sign at the front of the school along
Rancho Vista Road is also under construction and is expected to be
complete by early September.

During the 2006-07 school year, a state-of-the-art pool and
gymnasium will be built on the eastern side of the campus. That
construction zone will be fenced off from students.

And an 800-seat theater is expected to be constructed during the
2007-08 school year. A future two-story classroom building is also
in the offing as part of that plan.